Chapter 5: Pairing Up

When Xiao Xu heard these words, she nearly broke down!

Though she had married into the Hu family, she had never truly established her position. With her impoverished maiden family and unreliable father and brothers, she naturally held a lower status in the Hu household. If this child she carried turned out to be a girl…

Yu Tingwan offered timely comfort: “Don’t cry now.”

Xiao Xu covered her face: …

I’m not crying, just building up to it. One more word from you, and the tears really will fall!

Though Yu Tingwan’s eyes showed no sympathy, she turned to defend Xiao Xu: “Aunt, spare her this time. Would it bring any honor to the family if Elder Cousin divorces and remarries?”

This year’s harvest had been good, and households had managed to sell their grain for a tidy sum. The Hu family’s finances had improved considerably, but supporting a scholar wasn’t easy. Next year’s tuition fees hadn’t been gathered yet, and every bit needed to be saved.

Besides, a bag of rice wouldn’t be enough to secure another wife these days.

Had Yu Tingwan not been the instigator of this mess, Xiao Xu might have been moved.

Then she heard Yu Tingwan speak, her tone rising and falling like a storyteller:

“Sister-in-law hasn’t done anything wrong. She was just being too straightforward. At its root, the matter was simply that the bean rice was too hard to swallow…”

“It’s all your fault, Aunt!”

Madam Wang felt her anger boiling over. “What did you say?”

“Say that again!”

Yu Tingwan calmly stated: “I’ve made the decision. Aunt, you’ll apologize to Sister-in-law, and we can put this matter behind us.”

“Family shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.”

Madam Wang felt dizzy.

Yu Tingwan would be the death of her one day! Since when did this girl get to make decisions? Just days ago when she had scolded Yu Tingwan, the girl hadn’t dared make a sound or complain.

Could Xiao Xu be right—had Yu Tingwan been possessed? Otherwise, how could her personality have changed so dramatically?

No, something wasn’t right.

Madam Wang suddenly recalled the scene from years ago when her husband had brought Yu Tingwan home.

Wasn’t Yu Tingwan rebellious even then? She stared hard at Yu Tingwan but met only cold, indifferent eyes that viewed her as a mere clown, as if seeing right through her.

A chill ran down Madam Wang’s spine.

She needed to send Yu Tingwan away quickly, before things got out of hand.

*

Perhaps because she was used to being busy all day, Yu Tingwan felt restless when she finally stopped.

Just as she stepped outside, she spotted Aunt Wu from next door peeking into their yard. Caught in the act, Aunt Wu showed no embarrassment. Instead, her eyes sized Yu Tingwan up: “Heading out again?”

Yu Tingwan remained polite to her. After all, Aunt Wu had no family ties to her and wouldn’t quarrel with Madam Wang just to defend her. But when Yu Tingwan had first arrived in Xilin Village and frequently clashed with Madam Wang, it was Aunt Wu who, unable to bear watching, had offered private advice:

«Child, if you’ll heed your auntie’s advice: never provoke your aunt.»

«Your uncle feels guilty toward your mother and dotes on you, but they’re still husband and wife. You’re just a niece, one step removed.»

«You bear the surname Yu, not Hu. This isn’t your home. If it weren’t for what happened to your parents back then, there would’ve been no connection in this lifetime. I know you’re wronged, and Madam Wang is harsh and won’t accept you, but without leverage, you must endure.»

Though the words were sharp, they came from the heart.

After all, she was an outsider.

Over time, Yu Tingwan had learned to bow her head and adapt. She had believed that by lowering herself, she could carve out a small corner of peace.

But her previous life’s suffering had been a harsh wake-up call—with shameless people like Madam Wang, giving an inch meant they’d take a mile.

Yu Tingwan smiled faintly: “Just gathering some firewood to keep warm at night.”

The firewood gathered now would be wet and wouldn’t burn well. However, she had a small pile stashed in her room, collected bit by bit before the snow. Though not much, it could last a few nights, and the damp wood could dry somewhat at the edge, making do.

She couldn’t count on the Hu family’s kitchen woodpile anymore—better to rely on herself.

This cursed weather.

Her quilt was thin, and the old windows let in cold air. Yu Tingwan feared she wouldn’t survive this cold winter.

Aunt Wu nodded repeatedly: “That makes sense. Don’t know what’s wrong this year, it’s gotten so cold. Quite a few people have frozen to death—people say heaven is claiming souls.”

She was about to say more when she noticed Yu Tingwan tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The girl’s old cotton clothes didn’t fit well, and as she moved, the sleeve slipped down, revealing a pale wrist.

Aunt Wu looked closer.

Goodness – the bruises on her wrist were shocking.

Aunt Wu’s eyes widened in shock. “Did she lay hands on you again?”

Yu Tingwan froze, following Aunt Wu’s gaze downward. “No…”

Aunt Wu interrupted: “That vicious woman!”

“Auntie misunderstands—I bumped into something in the dark while getting up at night.”

Aunt Wu wouldn’t believe it, her eyes full of pity. “I know you’re trying to cover for her.”

“It really isn’t—”

“I understand completely!”

Yu Tingwan fell silent, though her peripheral vision caught sight of a thin elderly woman watching from a distance with obvious interest.

She recognized her.

That was Granny Fan, Xilin Village’s biggest gossip.

Whatever passed through her mouth spread like wildfire.

Most importantly, Granny Fan had a long-standing grudge with Madam Wang.

Yu Tingwan instantly adopted a pitiful demeanor: “These little injuries are nothing.”

“What matters is family harmony.”

“How can I, as a junior, complain?”

“I don’t feel any pain.”

Yu Tingwan let out a shaky breath: “I’m! Still! Alive!”

Granny Fan: !!!

Fresh gossip! She darted off toward the busiest part of the village, unable to contain her excitement.

“Everyone, listen up! I just came from the Hu house, and you won’t believe what I saw!”

She launched straight into her tale: “Madam Wang beat that niece of hers again—so vicious, like she would eat someone alive. Back when Hu Dazhu was around, she showed some restraint, but now who knows?”

“Last time when she fell in the water, I suspected Madam Wang pushed her.”

Someone spoke up in disbelief: “Madam Wang may have a bad temper, but you don’t get along with her—you shouldn’t slander her like this.”

Granny Fan sneered: “Do I need to slander her?”

“She’s naturally a malicious person.”

She narrowed her eyes knowingly: “Why are you defending her? Don’t tell me you want to marry your daughter to her second son?”

“Save your breath. Her eyes are set so high, how could she make a marriage alliance with you? Last time she even called your granddaughter a toad trying to eat swan meat.”

A young wife spoke up: “Raising a niece under your nose, not your own child – what’s wrong with being a bit harsh?”

The logic was crude but made sense, and others nodded in agreement.

Granny Fan grew agitated.

“Those who know say she’s a niece, those who don’t might think they found a slave.”

“What do you know, being a new wife!”

“Go ask your mother-in-law what terrible things happened back then in the Hu family. Hu Dazhu had only one sister, and he feels guilty – taking care of his niece is only right.”

The elders who knew about the old affairs exchanged looks and sighed.

“Is that girl alright?”

Granny Fan waved her hand: “She’s fine.”

“Still breathing.”

“Just don’t know if Madam Wang will torture her to death first, or if the Wei family’s young master will die under Old Man Qian first.”

“With the New Year coming, two deaths in the village would be quite unlucky.”

She scratched her head and laughed: “Remarkable! How these things end up paired together.”